Narco-Analysis in Criminal Investigation and Trial: A Conspectus

Abstract

In the present decade commission of crime has qualitatively changed. Offenders have started using new techniques and methods of commission of crimes. They are also getting technology based logistic support in carrying out their nefarious acts. Perpetrators of crime either leave little evidence or no evidence in the course of the commission of crime. Even if the witnesses are available they do not turn up to help the investigators, prosecutors or depose in courts. Traditional methods of criminal investigation which have been in practice in India for a long time have failed to yield concrete results. All this has resulted in low conviction rate. For the proper administration of Criminal Justice and to ensure the confidence of the people in the criminal justice system it is necessary that new techniques of crime detection are employed and the offenders are brought to justice. So, it has become very necessary for the investigators and the criminal courts to resort to the advancement of forensic medicine in administration of Criminal Justice. Narco-Analysis test commonly known as “truth Serum test” is one of such techniques employed by investigators. But the use of Narco- Analysis has been hotly debated at the national as well as International level. Both the sides boast of having support of law enforcement agencies, Social thinkers, Human Right activists and Jurists. Though the issue has been hotly debated, there is a dearth of studies on the jurisprudence of Narco- Analysis. The present study is an attempt to examine the various issues involved in the use of Narco- Analysis in criminal Investigation.